Michael-Che Swisher's work is inspired by her love of animals. As a child, she dragged homeevery injured squirrel, bunny, and bird. As a adult, she became a volunteer wildliferehabilitator and fostered many kittens. The artist often had baby opossums and squirrelsas residents and at other times, a house full of playful kittens.

With each painting, the artist focuses on color and texture to highlight the animal's uniquepersonality. Michael-Che's style is instinctive. Colors and tools are selected as the paintingdevelops. Brushes, painting knives, and other unexpected tools are utilized to create theartist's characteristic levels of texture. Mixing colors on both the palette and canvas allowsthe artist to experience the joy of manipulating thick layers of paint.

Michael-Che lives with multiple sclerosis which at times interferes with her painting, weakening her eye muscles and the right side of her body. In early 2013, the artistexperienced severe muscle weakness in her right arm and shoulder and a loss of fine motorcontrol in her hand. She was unable to paint for the rest of the year.

Today, the artist paints with the assistance of a mobile arm support that holds her arm upwhich she is unable to do herself. Despite the pain and challenges involved, Michael-Che isdetermined to paint. The MS Society asked her what it meant to paint again. Her response: "It means everything!"

Some days the artist can control the movements of a brush. Other days, it can beinteresting. If her right hand is not strong enough to hold a brush, she'll let her left handtake over. The artist will find random objects and embark on an exploration of textures, turning something she can't control into finding new ways to express herself.

Before turning to fine art, Ms. Swisher was an illustrator for seven years. She illustratedfour children's books and her artwork is displayed on dinnerware, bed & bath items, inmagazines, and advertisements. Michael-Che's paintings can be found in private collectionsthroughout the U.S. and in Japan, Australia, Great Britain, Korea, and Canada.